Paradies Lagardère, a travel retail and restaurateur leader in North America, and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), is thrilled to announce a new full-service illycaffè in the international terminal between gates 65 and 66. With more than 25 million passengers traveling through the airport in 2018, YVR is committed to creating an airport that British Columbia can be proud of, which includes a robust dining program designed to meet the needs of its diverse traveling demographics. Paradies Lagardère, through its partnership with YVR, is committed to not only crafting first-class guest experiences, but also connecting with guests at multiple levels and meeting the needs of its airport partners. Adjoining illycaffe is a Relay travel essential store. The Relay concept at YVR is flexible, durable, and sustainable, with a new modern and sleek design that will capture the attention of the airport’s travelers, along with providing beverages, snacks and other travel essentials. The brand has been a travel staple for 160 years, with 1,400 stores across 23 countries.
A grand opening event celebrating the new concept and introducing it to travelers was held today at the airport.
Vancouver travelers that are fans of the brand, and those unfamiliar with illy coffee, will be delighted by the delicious and diverse offerings of the new illycaffè. A third-generation family-owned coffee company from Trieste, Italy, illycaffè is a global leader in sustainable high-quality coffee. illycaffè shops offer coffee lovers an inspirational and immersive illy experience, featuring the brand’s iconic imagery and other visual elements, ideal environments to linger over coffee of unparalleled quality, and coffee purchased directly from farmers, and prepared by expertly-trained baristas. illycaffè baristas are rigorously trained by the company’s renowned University del Caffè faculty. The training spans expert coffee preparation, from traditional espresso, latte and cappuccino, to illy Cold Brew and original specialty drinks.
“The illycaffè brand has fans around the world, and travelers that visit the Vancouver International Airport that aren’t familiar with illy will love the ambiance of an authentic Italian coffee bar, the delicious coffee, tea and food offerings, and first-class service and knowledge of the baristas,” said Gregg Paradies, president and CEO, Paradies Lagardère. “Paradies Lagardère is thrilled to work with airport partners such as YVR to bring the best brands to travelers.”
“We are thrilled to partner once again with Paradies Lagardère and welcome premium coffee shop illycaffè to YVR,” said Scott Norris, vice president, commercial development, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Part of delivering outstanding customer experiences is offering new and innovative concepts that appeal to our diverse group of travellers. We can’t wait for our passengers to enjoy illycaffè and the rest of our enhanced food and beverage and retail program, which will be introduced over the next two years.”
“Our newest illycaffè, in partnership with Paradies Lagardere, offers travelers to and from Vancouver our very best from high-quality coffee to an experience that inspires guests,” said Barry Sheldon, President of illycaffè North America. “Vancouver is an exciting cultural destination and leader in sustainability-- a vibrant city that encompasses illy’s values and passion for beauty and goodness.”
